This week David Carty has again brought the issues of constitutional reform to the forefront. It may beg the question by some people: ‘Who wants to think of a constitution and constitutional reform in the face of high prices and mounting bills?’

Yes, we are burdened by social issues: high prices; stagnant salaries; increased rates for basic amenities and services; and rising incidents of crime. We may feel too pressured and preoccupied with everyday issues to bother with dry constitutional matters that only politicians and lawyers seem to understand. Truth be told: a constitution is constructed within the context of everyday concerns.
To borrow an analogy from Mr. Carty, a constitution is like a house in which we can find shelter and protection. A constitution provides security, and shape for our political and social ideals. In short, how we live and in what we live is our business. Constitutional reform is our business.

In its recent history, Anguilla has had a series of constitutions which have all fallen short in ensuring the goals to which we aspire. We are now in a unique position to be architects, designers project managers and builders of our own constitutional structure. We have to take advantage of this opportunity to ensure that our aspirations are fully represented.

We may feel too uninformed to participate. We may feel powerless to affect the future given the global sphere in which we move and have our being. We may feel too stressed out with the present to worry about the future. Whatever we may feel, the quality of our political future can partially begin in the present as we choose to move towards involvement and proactivity or choose to wallow in indifference and indecision.

The previous initiatives to reach the people by a series of lectures did not seem to attract the attention of a large number of our people. Whatever was the reason, the planned town meetings, taking the issues in the villages of the people, is another effort to involve us. Let us not allow this opportunity to pass us by.

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